Murder complaint filed vs. self-confessed gunman, 3 others in Percy Lapid slay

A complaint for murder has been filed against Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, and his three other accomplices, police said Wednesday.

“Nag-file po tayo kahapon po sa Department of Justice sa Manila ng kasong murder laban kay… Joel Escorial, Israel Dimaculangan, Edmund Dimaculangan, at kay alias Orly,”  Southern Police District chief Police Brigadier General John Kirby Kraft told GMA News Online by phone.

(We filed a murder complaint with the Department of Justice in Manila yesterday against Joel Escorial, Israel Dimaculangan, Edmund DImaculangan, and alias Orly.)

In a message to reporters, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said Escorial underwent inquest proceedings at the DOJ on Tuesday night. He said the resolution may be released by Thursday.

Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa and host of online broadcast program "Percy Lapid Fire" at DWBL 1242 and columnist for Hataw, was shot dead while on his way home in Las Piñas City on October 3.

Escorial (not Estorial as earlier reported) surrendered to the police out of fear for his personal safety. He was presented to the media on Tuesday by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

Meanwhile, Lapid’s brother, Roy Mabasa, arrived at the DOJ office on Wednesday to sign the complaint against the suspects.

PANOORIN: Roy Mabasa, kapatid ng pinatay na broadcaster na si Percy Lapid, nasa Department of Justice para opisyal na maisampa ang kasong murder laban sa mga suspek. @dzbb pic.twitter.com/xHSSO7fmX8

— Isa Avendaño-Umali (@Isa_Umali) October 19, 2022

“Officially, pipirma, manunumpa tayo sa piskal upang officially mai-file yung murder case doon sa suspect atsaka yung tatlong kasabwat nito,” Mabasa told reporters.

(I will sign and officially swear to the document so we can officially file the murder case against the suspect and his three accomplices.)

“‘Yun muna ‘yung gagawin natin ngayon at sa mga darating na araw ay meron pa na mga susunod na aksyon na mangyayari,” he added.

(This is what we will do for now and we will take more actions in the following days.)

The three accomplices, who are still at large, were all identified by Escorial in his statement to the police.

In an interview with the media, Mabasa said the information contained in the complaint was “basic information.”

“Ito’y basic lamang ‘yung mga information na nandito, nakapaloob dito sa complaint, at sa aking pagkakaalam, sa mga darating na araw ay magkakaroon na kaagad ng mga initial hearing, preliminary, at pupunta dito ‘yung suspect at siya naman ang mag hahangin ng kanyang counter-affidavit,” he said.

(This contains basic information only. And as far as I know, there will be initial and preliminary hearings in the following days, and the suspect will go here and file his counter-affidavit.)

On Tuesday night, police investigators, Escorial and Mabasa conducted a walkthrough at the scene of Lapid's killing.

Kraft said Escorial's statements during the walkthrough matched the CCTV footage obtained by the investigators.  —KBK, GMA News